The First Order reveals its true intentions on board the Colossus, while Kaz helps Synara escape their grasp in “The First Order Occupation.”

This week’s episode of Star Wars Resistance, “The First Order Occupation” opens with a beautiful shot of the Castilon ocean. Flying along the surface is a native avian species, and trailing them; a First Oder TIE Fighter coming down from orbit. Nature is once again giving way to another technological terror. Aboard the Colossus, Synara is denied passage on a shuttle leaving the station because the First Oder has it on lockdown. The First Order shows its true colors since offering tighter security on the station to Captain Doza. If the voice of the droid working the ticket stand sounds familiar, it’s because it has the same-sounding voice as the gatekeeper droid in Jabba’s palace in Return of the Jedi.

In many stories since the Disney acquisition, the idea of The Empire/The First Order as the bad guys isn’t entirely black and white. In Lost Stars, Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree, two characters from the same planet with two very different backgrounds. Ciena, born less fortunate favors The Empire because it brings peace and order to Jelucan. Thane, born in a higher class family, recognizes the Empire’s brutality with their destruction of Alderaan. In Revenge of the Sith, the Senate applauds at the creation of the Empire because the Emperor promises a “safe and secure society.” It continues here on the Colossus when Kaz sees The First Order as bad guys only bred for war, while Tam sees them as a necessity, helping to save Tora’s life.

Seconds later, a group of stormtroopers stops and interrogates a Rodian male, asking for his identification. When he trips and falls, the lead stormtrooper calls for his arrest, but Kaz quickly intervenes. The troopers turn to Kaz, with blaster rifles at the ready. Kaz feigns ignorance, but Neeku jumps right in and without a thought gives the soldiers all the information about Kaz he possibly could. Just then the male Rodian finds his identification; the troopers acknowledge its legality. Meanwhile, Kaz sneaks off with Neeku and Tam.

A Growing Threat

In a more in-depth discussion, Neeku tries to explain to Kaz that the First Order is only here to look for spies. Tam agrees by saying that they’re just doing their job and that this is what Captain Doza wanted. Kaz, however, knows better as a member of the Resistance. In Doza’s office, Commander Pyre continues to placate Captain Doza by reminding him that his stormtroopers are only there doing what Doza agreed to; helping to keep the Colossus secure. Doza replies that the First Order is just here until the pirates are dealt with. Before his image fades, Pyre insists Doza needs the First Order. Doza’s administration droids agree that the station has never been safer. Jason Hightower, the voice for Captain Doza, replies with a heavy burden, “But at what cost?” Doza knows the cost as he was an officer in the Empire before his current position. He knows how organizations like The First Order work.

Yeager pulls Kaz aside and convinces him it’s too dangerous to send out any transmissions for fear of being tracked by The First Order. In an emotion-filled scene, Kaz’s eagerness to do something shows when he slams his hand down. Kaz is slowly starting to take on a more active role as a resistance spy. Yeager’s experience helps to keep him in check. The meeting ends abruptly when Neeku allows stormtroopers in to ask questions about a pirate spy aboard the station. When the troopers receive a tip, they leave the three to themselves. Yeager reminds Kaz to lay low for now. Kaz assures Yeager he won’t do anything, giving a side-eyed glance at Neeku.

Kaz locates Synara but is unsure whether or not he should warn her about the stormtroopers coming for her. Synara contacts Kragan, but Kragan tells Synara she’s out of luck. The pirates can’t go anywhere near the Colossus since the First Order betrayed them. They can only get her if she gets off and away from the Colossus first. This reinforces the fact that the pirates are not her friends. After Synara storms off, Kaz catches the First Order arresting a Gotal for loitering past curfew. Opeepit, the station janitor isn’t spared harassment when a stormtrooper voiced by Dave Filoni confiscates his floor cleaner. This reinforces the fact that the First Order isn’t just there for safety reasons. They’re there for control.

Resistance Awakens

Kaz decides to help Synara and clumsily tells her that The First Order is looking for her and it may be in her best interest to get off the station. A Rodian, possibly the same one from before, reveals to a group of troopers that Synara might be at the metal yard. The troopers advance. By this time in the Star Wars galaxy, the intentions of The First Order are not widely known. Even General Organa is having a difficult time convincing the Republic to engage The First Order. Evidence of this shows with the Rodian eagerly providing information on Synara San’s whereabouts. In states of martial law, self-preservation dictates self over others. If giving away someone else’s location means the Rodian gets to live, that’s precisely what they’re going to do.

Kaz disguised as a station worker sneaks Synara into a large container and brings her to a cargo ship which is bound for Takodana. Coincidently enough, the home of the pirate queen Maz Kanata and her castle in The Force Awakens. Maz’s castle is a watering hole for smugglers, pirates, and spies from all reaches of the galaxy. Kaz recognizes that Synara is a good person despite her pirate background. His sentiment touches Synara as she stares at Kaz without comment. It’s unlikely, but it’s intriguing to think that if Kaz is successful in helping Synara escape, The First Order would not have any other reason to stay on the Colossus because there aren’t any other pirates on board. More than likely they will find another reason to stay.

With help from Neeku’s distraction, Kaz gets Synara to an escape pod. When Synara’s pod launches, a visual homage is paid to the escape pod in A New Hope when 3PO and R2 escape the Tantive IV. Again, Star Wars Resistance pulling from all eras of Star Wars musically, visually, and tonally. Later when Kaz tells Tam the reason why Synara left, Tam still maintains that The First Order is solely aboard to protect the platform. Sometime’s it’s hard for people like Tam to see the evil in oppressive organizations until it happens to them.

Coda

At the episode’s conclusion, Synara’s escape pod surfaces and she is picked up by Kragan and flies off on his skiff barge. Star Wars Resistance “The First Order Occupation” was possibly the most exciting episode to date. There is a noticeable difference in tone between the first few episodes of Star Wars Resistance and the last few episodes. With The First Order’s increasing presence, a darker cloud hangs over the galaxy. It’s safe to say that Star Wars Resistance is concurrent with the Poe Dameron comic book series, or they at least overlap at some point, depending on who has possession of BB-8. It is fascinating to witness the timeline post Return of the Jedi starting to fill in, and it’s only just beginning.